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In close proximity to the discerning drinkers of Paris, the Central Vineyards have long had a lucrative market for their quality wines. Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé have become famous as a result and they continue to produce some of the finest white wines to be found in France. Sauvignon Blanc is the grape that they use and many would argue, though maybe not in New Zealand, that it is still at its unsurpassable best in the Central Vineyards of the beautiful Loire Valley.
Read MoreSauvignon Blanc is responsible for all the white wine of the area (except for a little Chasselas in Pouilly-sur-Loire) and when drunk young, as it should be, it is fresh, fruity and effervescent.
Pinot Noir produces a relatively small amount of undistinguished red and more appealing rosé wines.
The Central Vineyards harbour many micro-climates on and around the hills that flank the Loire, but of primary importance are the well-drained, heat-retaining limestone soils that Sauvignon Blanc seems to love. It is these that elevate Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé to greatness.